Fake Blue Screen of Death
Free fake blue screen of death prank: a realistic Windows 10 or Windows 11 crash screen that goes fullscreen with a climbing percentage. Press Esc to exit. Choose the Windows 10 blue screen, the newer Windows 11 black crash screen, or the classic XP-era text version, pick the stop code, and set how fast the percentage climbs. It only looks like a crash: nothing on the computer is touched, and the QR code links back here so the prank reveals itself.
What you can use it for
- Harmless April Fools' prank on a friend's PC
- Props for videos, skits, and IT training
- Screenshots for tutorials about crash troubleshooting
- Show what a real crash screen looks like in a security-awareness talk
How to set up the fake blue screen prank
- Pick the crash screen that matches their computer: Windows 10/11 for the blue screen with the :( face, Windows 11 (new) for the newer black crash screen, or Classic XP for the old text-mode screen.
- Choose a stop code. CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED and IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL are the most familiar.
- Set how long the percentage takes to reach 100% and whether it starts over — a slow climb keeps the prank going while they wait for the 'restart'.
- Press Fullscreen, keep the mouse still for two seconds so the controls fade, and walk away.
What each crash screen looks like
- Windows 10 and 11 (blue) — a sad face, 'Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart', a climbing percentage, a QR code, and the stop code. Windows used this design for most of the last decade.
- Windows 11 (new, black) — Microsoft began replacing the blue screen with a simpler black screen in 2025: no sad face, just 'Your device ran into a problem and needs to restart', the percentage, and the stop code.
- Classic (XP and Windows 7 era) — white monospaced text on deep blue, with the STOP hex code and the 'dumping physical memory' countdown older PCs showed.
A fake blue screen vs a scam: how to tell
A real crash screen never shows a phone number, never asks you to call support, and never asks for payment. Scam websites copy the look of a crash screen and add a phone number to scare people into calling. If a 'blue screen' inside a browser shows a number, it's a scam: press Esc or Ctrl+Alt+Del and close the tab.
ScreenBG's prank never shows a phone number or payment request, and its QR code points back to this page so the joke reveals itself.
How to exit
Press Esc (or F11) to leave fullscreen, then close the tab. Nothing on the computer was changed. For a sequel, try the broken screen prank or a fake Windows update.
Frequently asked questions
Does it actually crash the computer?+
No. It's a fullscreen web page that looks like a Windows crash screen. Press Esc (or F11) to leave fullscreen and close the tab — nothing is installed or changed.
Can I choose Windows 10 or Windows 11?+
Yes. Pick the Windows 10 blue screen with the sad face, the newer Windows 11 black crash screen, or the classic XP-style text screen.
Can a real website lock my PC with a blue screen?+
No. Scam sites use fake crash screens with a phone number to frighten people. A real crash never shows a phone number. If you see one, close the tab or press Ctrl+Alt+Del — never call the number. ScreenBG's version never shows phone numbers or payment requests.
More pranks & fake screens
Fake Coding Screen
Auto-typing code that looks like a busy programmer at work.
Hacked Screen
Full-screen ransomware-style warning with countdown and payment block.
Format Drive Screen
A terminal furiously 'deleting' files off your C: drive.
Fake Buffering
A streaming player frozen forever at 99% loading.
Fake AI Coding Agent Screen
A fake terminal AI agent that reads files, writes diffs, and runs tests.
Hacker Typer
Mash any keys and realistic hacker code types itself.
Broken Screen Prank
Tap to crack the screen with realistic shattered glass.
Windows Update Screen
A convincing Windows-style update screen you fully control.
macOS Update Screen
A clean macOS-style install screen you fully control.